Shoe fitting device



June 17, 1952 P. F. WEBER SHOE FITTING DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 51, 1949 INVENTOR.

PAUL I-'. WEBER BY ATTORNEYS June 1 1952 P. F. WEBER 2,601,131 SHOE FITTING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. PAUL F. WEBER 27/ (I Fwd 5W a; 932 Ie6 (/4 ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES RMEEN'E' OFFICE 2,601,131 SHOE FITTING DEVICE Paul F. Weber, San Francisco, Calif.

Application-May 31, 1949, Serial No. 96,1167

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for visually gauging the length of a foot comparatively with the length of a shoe being fitted for .said foot.

The particular embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter comprises, generally, a platform which is adapted to support thereon a shoe and a human foot in side-byside relationship with respect to one a other. A shoe gauging member comprising a shoe positioning member and a flexible wire tape mounted for extensible movement with respect thereto are supported 'by the platform in such manner that the shoe positioning member with its associated extensible part can be positioned interiorly of a shoe so that the back of the shoe is in touching engagement with the shoe positioning member. Upon actuation the extensible part is adapted to travellengthwise and interio'rly of a shoe from heel to toe to gauge the interior length thereof. A foot gauging member, comprising a stationary foot positioning member and a flexible tape mounted for extensible movement with respect thereto is adapted upon actuation to move lengthwise of the foot to measure .or gauge the length thereof. An actuating member is provided to move both theextensible -par't of the shoe gauging member and the extensible part of the foot engaging member correspondingly and in unison so that an operator can visually compare the length of the shoe comparatively with the length of the foot. 7

HeretoforeX-ray machines have been-employed quite extensively in retail shoe stores to permit customers to view how their feet fit withina pair of shoes. Not only are such X-r'ay machines quite expensive to install and maintain, but there have been occasions reported where a customer has suffered bodily injury because of .prolonged exposure of his feet to the action of .the X-rays.

The present invention has as one r its princ-ip'al objects the provision of .a wholly mechanical device which affords a means .of visually 'indicatin-gtoa customer the comparative respective lengths between his foot and a shoe for which he is being fitted.

einother principal object :Of the present inventionis to provide adevice which is equally capable of gauging comparatively the lengths of right and left shoes with right and left feet respectively. I

.Another object oi the present invention is to provide a device .of the character above indicated which may The constructed compactly so to be capable of being readily carried about a store by hand to suit the convenience of the customers.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a device of thecharacter above indicated which requires no special skill to operate, which may be manufactured relatively inexpensively, and which is of exceedingly durable and rugged construction. 7

Further objects 'of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an isometric View of the device with the platform or frame portion thereof indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l and showing a shoe (indicated in broken lines) in operative association with the device.

Fig. i is a sectional View taken on line li of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5- 5 of Fig. 1 and showing a foot (indicated in broken lines) inoperative association with the device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6- 6 of Fig. '1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section take-n on line -'!'l of Fig. -5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the present device comprises, generally, a rectangular box-frame A, a shoe gauging mechanism B, a foot gauging mechanism G, and an actuating mechanism D'.

The platform or frame heretofore indicated generally at A comprises more specifically-a Frectangular hollow box ha ving side pieces a front piece 12, a back piece 3, 'a Hat table top part 4 and a bottom piece is which latter said "piece is preferably attached removably to the bottoms of the side pieces by suitable means, such as screws or the like (not shown) A relatively narrow slot '6 is formed in'the table top 4 and extends medially thereof -from f-ront to back and a relatively wider slot] is also formed in the-table top 'fl'which is1 rigposecl laterally with respect to and parallels s o The shoe gauging mechanism heretofore indicated geneially at B comprises more specifically an elongated metal guideway 4-2 which is attached rigidly by suitable means, such 'as screws (not shown), to the undersideofthe top t of the box-frame and projects outwardly through the back-piece 3 thereof whence it is bent to form an upwardly disposed hook-like end portion, such as indicated generally at I3. The guide I2 is rectangular in cross-section, and the part of the guide which is attached to the underside of the top 4 of the box-frame is formed with an elongated downwardly facing slot l4, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter in more detail. Disposed slidably within guideway I2 is an elongated flat steel tape |6 having a toe engaging element I! provided on its extensible end. A shoe positioning member l8, which is in the nature of a rearwardly extending projection, is attached rigidly to guideway I2 and, as will appear hereinafter, is adapted to contact the heel of a shoe which is to be gauged to guide same into proper gauging position on the platform.

The foot gauging mechanism, heretofore indicated generally at C, comprises, more specifically, a foot positioning member l9 rigidly attached to the top 4 of the box-frame, and said foot gauging mechanism also comprises an elongated guideway 2| which is adapted to support slidably therein an extensible metal tape or band 22. The foot positioning member comprises, more specifically, an arcuate upright member to receive in nested position the heel portion of a foot. The guideway 2| is afiixed by suitable means (not shown) to bottom piece of the box frame, and the rearward end portion thereof is formed as a hook-shaped portion 23, the end of which terminates at a point coterminous with the rearward end of slot 1 provided in table top 4.

A transversely disposed marker or tab 24, preferably about three-quarters of an inch wide is attached to the extensible end of tape 22.

A pair of parallel support rods and 26 are suitably attached to their respective ends to front piece 2 and back piece 3 of the box-frame. Transversely extending actuating arm 2'] is provided with sleeves or bearing surfaces 28 and 29 which, in turn, are slidably mounted on rods 25 and 26, respectively. Through this latter arrangement of parts the actuating arm 21 can move slidably along the said rods 25 and 25.

Actuating button or knob 2| is formed with a narrowed bottom portion 32 having a width appropriate to fit into and slide along slot 6 of table top 4. The bottom of the actuating button or knob is rigidly attached to arm 21 whereby slidable movement of the knob along slot 6 imparts corresponding movement to arm 2'! slidably along rods 25 and 26.

One end of the flexible steel tape 22 which, in turn, is disposed slidably in guide 2| is securely attached to the bottom of actuating arm 21 adjacent one end of the arm, and one end of extensible steel tape l6 which is slidably disposed within guide I2 is securely attached to the top of actuating arm 21 adjacent the opposite end of the arm. More specifically and referring to Figs. 6 and 7, it is seen that flexible tape 22 is secured to the bottom of arm 21 by a pin or nail 33 which projects upwardly through the tape and through slot l4a provided in guide 2|, and into the arm 21. Thus, movement of arm 21 over rods 25 and 26 imparts corresponding movement to tape 22.

In Fig. 6 it is seen that tape I5 is attached to the top of arm 21 in a manner similar to the means of attaching tape 22 to the arm as just described. Specifically, a pin or nail 33 projects downwardly through the tape and. through 4 slot l4 actuating arm 21 slidably over rods 25 and 26 causes the tapes I6 and 22 to move correspondingly and in unison with one another in their respective guideways |2 and 2|.

Secured to the underside of slot 1 formed in the table top is a card or plate 34 bearing suitable measuring indicia 35 which are graduated consecutively to indicate in inches and fractions thereof the relative distance that the outermost end of the marker 24 moves with respect to the rearwardmost part of the foot positioning member. The extensible tape 22 carrying marker 24 overlies the plate 34, and, therefore, when extensible movement is imparted to tape l6 upon actuation of arm 21 in the manner above described, marker 24 is caused to move over measuring indicia 35 of plate 34. Preferably the marker is made about three quarters of an inch wide for reasons to be explained hereinafter. A marginal groove 3'! is cut around slot 7 to form a supporting structure for a piece of glass or other transparent window 36 which may be nested within the slot to form a covering thereover. Obviously, the window material should be of sufiicient strength to support the full weight of a person standing thereon on only one foot.

In operation, knob 3| is moved as far as possible along slot 6 in the direction of front piece 2 whereat narrowed portion 32 of the knob will abut against the end of the slot and serve as a limiting stop means therefor. Movement of the knob 3| and arm 2'! in the direction of front piece 2 causes extensible tapes |6 and 22 to retract in the direction of back piece 3. Assuming that the knob 3| has been thus manipulated to fully retract the extensible pieces i5 and 22, a shoe may then be positioned on top of the table 4 of the box-frame in operative association with the shoe gauging member. More specifically, the heel part of the shoe may he slipped under the hook-shaped portion l3 of the guide |2 so as to bring the shoe positioning member |8 into contact with the raised back or heel portion of the shoe, such as indicated in Fig. 3.

A user whose foot is being fitted for the shoe may then place his foot on window 36 in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 wherein it is seen that the heel part of the foot is moved into contact with the arcuate heel contact member i9.

Assuming that both a shoe and foot which are to be gauged comparatively with one another are positioned properly in association with the device in the manner described above, the knob 3| may then be moved slidably along slot 6 in the direction of back piece A to cause tapes i5 and 22 to move extensibly outwardly from the ends of their respective guideways 2 and 2|. Continued movement of knob 3| will eventually cause toe engaging member I! carried by tape Hi to strike against the toe of the shoe being gauged. An operator can readily detect when the element I! has contacted the toe of the shoe through his sense of touch or feel in manipulating knob 3|i. e., the steel tape |6 has suflicient rigidity not to buckle or bend when element strikes the toe of the shoe without considerable additional force having to be applied to the knob, and an operator can, therefore, readily detect when contact between element I? and the shoe and toe has been established. It is believed evident, of course, that movement of knob 3| along slot 6 in the direction of back piece 3 also causes tape 22 carrying marker 24 to move extensibly outwardly from stationary guide 2| into the arm. Thus, movement of measured from edge 24 to edge 24 5 and associated arcuate heel contact member 19. More specifically, the mai'kerdfl is caused to move between glass 36 and indici'a plate 34 in 'a direction lengthwise of a users foot supported by the window '36.

If a proper fit between shoe and foot has been made the inner-edge 24 of marker. 24s'hould, at the point whereat-element ll contacts the toe of the shoe, be aligned directly beneath the farthest extending toe of the foot being measured. The outer edge l4 of the marker is arranged and constructed to move with respect to the rearwa'rdmost portion of heel contact member l9 precisely the same distance that element H is adapted to move with respect to heel engaging member 18 upon operation of the actuating member. Thus, outer edge 24 of marker 12d visually indicates to an operator the exact length of a shoe comparatively with a foot being fitted for the shoe. In view of the fact that the interior length of a shoe should exceed by approximately three-quarters of inch the measured length of a foot to establish a proper fit between shoe and foot, the marker 24, as above noted, is preferably made three-quarters of an inch wide (as Thus, it is that when the inner edge 24 of the marker 24 registers in alignment directly below the tarthest extending toe of the foot, it may safely be assumed that a proper fit between foot and shoe is made. The outer edge M in association with indicia plate 34 marks the interior length of the shoe being gauged.

Although I prefer to employ a transversely extending mar ker such as illustrated and described,

it is evident that the tape 22 itself may he provided with a mark located about three-quarters of an inch inwardly of the outermost end of the tape to serve substantially the same purpose as the three-quarters of an inch wide marker.

Although I have illustrated and described the use of flexible steel tapes or bands as comprising the extensible members of the shoe and foot gauging mechanisms, it is understood that use of the term tapes-herein is meant to denote and imply equivalent elements, such as flexible wires or the like.

It is, moreover, believed readily understandable that if deemeddesirable, 'a 'secondor duplioate foot gauging mechanism identical in "construction and operation to foot gauging mechanism C described and illustrated herein could be incorporatedin'the device in side-by-side relationship with said mechanism C to permit both feet of a user to be gauged simultaneously and comparatively with one shoe. I have not illustrated in detail such a modification as I prefer to measure the two feet of a customer successively by having him first place "one of his feet on the device and then the other for gauging separately the length of each 'foot comparatively with the length of the respective right or left shoe being fitted therefor.

purposes of clarity of understanding, it is noderstood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. A device for visually "gauging the length of ashes comparatively'with the length of a :foot comprising, positioning means including a shoe supporting platform area to position a shoe and mechanism comprising a first flexibly extensible ipdit spaced above said shoe supporting platform area arranged and constructed for positioning interiorly of said 'shoe positioned for gauging to 'move. fupon actuation lengthwise thereof, a :foot gauging mechanism comprising a second flexibly extensible part arranged and constructed to move upon actuation lengthwise of said foot positioned for gauging and in the same direction as said ii'rs'tnamedxpart, and means to actuate said first "and second fflexibly extensible parts correspondingly and in unison.

2. A device for visually gaugingthe length of a shoe comparatively with the length of a foot comprising, platform areas to support respectively a shoe and-"a toot to be gauged comparatively, 'a shoe i'gauging mechanism comprising a stationary part and a part extensiblewith respect to said stationary par-t sp'aced above said shoe supporting platform area to permit the interior heel portion or a shoe to be moved between said platform area and said stationary part, a foot 'gauging ffnechanism comprising a stationary part and "a part extensible with respect to said stationary part, the stationary part or said shoe gauging mechanism adapted to contact the back interior portion of said slide being gauged for guiding the shoe into 'g 'g ing posi-tion, the extensible part of sad s o -gaugin mechanism arranged to :move tnsiblyupon actuation lengthwise or a sh e positioned f'or gauging to "contact the toe portion of said shoe, the extensible-part of said root gauging mechanism arranged toinoveextensi'bly upon'a'c'tuation lengthwi'se of a foot positioned for gauging and in the same direction as the extensible part or said slide "gauging mechanism, an actuating member. means connecting the extensible partof said shoe "gauging inecha sm and the 'eiiten'sible' part of said 'foot g augig mechan in with said-actuating memue -sam las't harried means, sa-idactuating member, said extensible part {of said shoe gauging mechanism and the extensible part of said foot :gaug ing mechanism being arranged for movement correspondingly and in unison with one ahothe'r. I

3. A device for vise-ally gauging the length of a foot comparatively th the length of a shoe, compi ising, {a platform having a first portion adapted to {support thereon 'a shoe to be gauged and a Second portion adapted to support thereon a foot to be gauged, a shoe gauging mechanism comprisin a heel contact part and a flexibly extensible the contact part supported extensibly with respect to said heel "contact part, supporting means supporting said heel and toe contact parts above the firstportion'o'f said platform, whereby 'a shoe to be gauged may be positionedon said platform with the said heel and toe and contact parts disposed interiorly of said shoe and with the heel contact part in touching engagement with the back of the shoe for guiding the shoe into gauging position, said extensible toe contact part arranged upon actuation to 'move the length of the shoe positioned for gaugi'ng interiorly a foot respectively for gauging, :a shoe gauging platform, means connecting respectively the 'extensible toe contact part of said shoe gauging mechanism and the extensible marker of said foot gauging mechanism with said actuating member, and means comprising said actuating member and said last named means to move said toe contact part and said marker correspondingly and in unison.

4. A device according to claim 3 and wherein means including indicia associated with said marker are provided to visually indicate the distance that said marker upon actuation moves with respect to said heel rest, whereby the length of a foot positioned for gauging on said second portion of said platform and the length of a shoe positioned for gauging on said first portion of said platform are indicated.

5. A device for visually gauging the length of a shoe comparatively with the length of a foot comprising, a platform having a first portion adapted to support a shoe thereon and a second portion adapted to support a foot thereon, a first guideway supported by said platform and having a hook-shaped end portion spaced above and overlying the first portion of said platform, a shoe positioning member attached to the hookshaped portion of said first guideway for guiding a shoe into gauging position, a second guideway supported by said platform and having a hookshaped end portion terminating adjacent the second portion of said platform, a foot positioning member attached to said platform adjacent the second portion of said platform for positioning a foot to gauging position, an actuating member supported slidably by said platform, first and second flexible metal tapes supported slidably in said first and second guideways respectively, one end of said first tape and one end of said second tape attached respectively to said actuating member to cause said first and second tapes upon operation of said actuating member to move slidably within their respective guideways correspondingly and in unison with one another and with said actuating member, the unattached end of said first tape arranged upon operation of said actuating member to move extensibly with respect to said shoe positioning member and to move lengthwise and interiorly of a shoe positioned for gauging on the first portion of said platform, the unattached end of said second tape arranged upon operation of said actuating member to move extensibly with respect to the hookshaped end portion of said second guideway and to move lengthwise of a foot positioned for gauging on the second portion of said platform.

6. A device according to claim 5 and wherein means comprising indicia associated with the extensible unattached end of said second tape are provided to indicate visually the distance that said second tape moves with respect to said shoe positioning member upon operation of said actuating member.

7. A device according to claim 6 and wherein the second portion of said platform which is adapted to support a foot to be gauged comprises a transparent window, and wherein the unattached end of said second tape is located beneath said window whereby said end moves upon actuation beneath said window and a foot positioned for gauging supported by said window.

8. A device for visually gauging the length of a shoe comparatively with the length of a foot comprising; positioning means including a platform area to position and support a shoe and a foot respectively in side by side relationship for gauging, a shoe gauging mechanism comprising a first flexibly extensible part located above the shoe platform supporting area arranged and constructed for positioning interiorly of said shoe positioned for gauging to move upon actuation lengthwise thereof, a foot gauging mechanism comprising a second flexibly extensible part arranged and constructed to move upon actuation lengthwise of said foot positioned for gauging and in the same direction as said first flexibly extensible part, and means connecting directly said first and second flexibly extensible parts to actuate said first and second extensible parts, said last named means and said first and second flexibly extensible parts being arranged for movement together correspondingly and in unison.

9. A device for visually gauging the length of a foot comparatively with the length of a shoe, comprising; a platform having a first portion adapted to support thereon a shoe to be gauged and a second portion comprising a transparent window adapted to support thereon a foot to be gauged, a shoe gauging mechanism comprisin a heel contact part and a flexible toe contact part supported extensibly with respect to said heel contact part, supporting means including said platform to support said heel and toe contact parts above the first portion of said platform, whereby a shoe to be gauged may be positioned on said platform with the said heel and toe contact part disposed interiorly of said shoe and with the heel contact part in touching engagement with the back of the shoe for guiding the shoe into gauging position, said extensible toe contact part arranged upon actuation to move the length of the shoe positioned for gauging interior- 1y thereof to contact the toe of said shoe, a foot gauging mechanism comprising a stationary arcuate heel rest supported adjacent said second portion of said platform for guiding a foot into gauging position and a marker includin flexible means extensible with respect to said heel rest, said marker located beneath said transparent Window and arranged upon actuation to move directly beneath said window lengthwise of a foot positioned for gauging, an actuating member supported movably by said platform, means connecting respectively the extensible toe contact part of said shoe gauging mechanism and the extensible marker of said foot gauging mechanism with said actuating member, and means comprising said actuating member and said last named means to move said toe contact part and said marker correspondingly and in unison.

PAUL F. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,542 Thain June 16, 1907 973,636 Divine Oct. 25, 1910 1,921,997 Bliss Aug. 8, 1933 1,926,581 Clark Sept. 12, 1933 2,175,116 Hack A Oct. 3, 1939 2,240,753 Bouchard May 6, 1941 2,320,768 Bliss June 1, 1943 2,323,540 Hyland July 6, 1943 2,326,820 Bliss Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,631 Great Britain Feb. 24, 1910 81,636 Germany Sept. 18, 1894 651,581 Germany Oct. 15, 1937 

